The Twins took their swings against AL Cy Young Award contender Josh Beckett, with Michael Cuddyer and Garrett Jones hitting homers as Minnesota built a 5-3 lead. The Red Sox pushed back furiously in the eighth and ninth, but Joe Nathan ultimately shut the door, striking out Kevin Youkilis to end the game.

A win and a Yankees loss would have given Boston the AL East title, but the magic number stayed at two. David Ortiz homered in going 4-for-5, but after Josh Beckett's rough start, the Red Sox were turned away late. They left two runners on in the eighth inning and the bases loaded in the ninth.